Biophysical control of the cell rearrangements and cell shape changes that build epithelial tissues

Abstract

Epithelial cell rearrangements and cell shape changes are fundamental mechanisms by which cells build and shape elaborate and diverse tissue architectures from simple tissue sheets. These cell behaviors are regulated by a complex interplay between physical and biochemical mechanisms, many of which have been uncovered in recent studies in Drosophila. While the regulation of these cell behaviors is still under investigation, emerging technologies are being used to gain experimental control over these behaviors, opening new possibilities for designing and engineering tissue structures. Analysis of the biophysical mechanisms governing cell shape and movement will be crucial for understanding morphogenesis and for harnessing this knowledge to build tissues of precise shapes and structures for basic science and engineering applications.